The San Diego Filipino

Today I was at Betchay’s in Penasquitos over the lunch hour to catch a glimpse of the singers performing on Saturday, May 30, 7:00PM at the Jenny Craig Pavilion at the University of San Diego (my alma mater). Three of the singers came — Kuh Ledesma, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Pops Fernandez. Regine Velasquez was unable to come.

There is so much talent among the Filipinos!!!

I also had the privilege of attending the book launching of MULTILINGUAL SAN DIEGO: Portraits of Language Loss and Revitalization edited by Ana Celia Zentella, Professor Emeriti at UCSD. The articles were written by UCSD students in Ethnic Studies and analyzes the vitality of the various language groups in San Diego and provides a historical overview of the city’s multilingual heritage. Included in the book is an article written by Ivy Dulay on the Filipino community.

The Pacific Rim Park in Palawan is quickly taking shape. For an update see

http://www.prppearls.blogspot.com/

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2009

The 1st Annual all High School Filipina/o Graduation to be celebrated in San Diego

Contact:  Patricia Guevarra, HS FilGrad Committee

email:      Hsfilgrad09@gmail.com 

San Diego, CA – Philippine American Youth Organization (PAYO), Kuya Ate Mentorship Program (KAMP), and Filipino American Educators Association (FILAMEDA) will be hosting the 1st Annual all High School Filipino/a Graduation (HS FilGrad). The celebration will take place on Sunday, June 14, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Filipino American Veterans Association Hall in San Diego.   

With such a large community of Filipina/os in San Diego, it is important we take time to celebrate the successes of our youth. The purpose of this celebration is to recognize the achievements of all San Diego High School Filipino/a graduating seniors by showing and giving them community support. 

“The event will add to the rich tradition of the Bayanihan Spirit we display here in the U.S.,” said HS FilGrad Committee Member Lily Prijoles. 

As organizations that work closely with Filipino/a youth in the classrooms and in the community, they understand the importance of providing recognition to our graduating High School Seniors in San Diego. 

“We want this event to be the best example of community support for the achievement of our youth,” Julius Alejandro, HSFilGrad Committee member stated. 

If you are interested in participating in the graduation ceremony or volunteering, please contact hsfilgrad09@gmail.com. 

For more info visit: www.myspace.com/payosd, www.kampsd.webs.com& www.filameda.org.

Please support this community event.

Last night’s final performance of Kundirana was incredible!!! So much energy and talent were on display from the nine very enthusiastic artists from De La Salle College. And all for a good cause — for the Bahay Pag-Asa Youth Center, a corrective and transformational facility exclusively for convicted youth offenders. Through the amazing efforts of a group of San Diegans chaired by Perly and Elaine, so much good work continues in the Philippines.

Bro. Gus Buquer, FSC who is the President of the La Salle Young Artists’ Foundation, Inc. has a very profound message written in the program: God sent me to carry out a mission, I believe I have accomplished it. And now it is time to move on and start again another task where God wants me to be.

What a great way to watch Manny Pacquiao’s victory as junior welterweight champion —-  with friends and family!! We all gathered for a great dinner with the typical Filipino spread prior to the game and then cheered him on. Typical of Manny he said he was just doing doing his job to make his fans happy.

According to a National Public Radio commentator, the streets of Manila were deserted during the game. Everyone was either at the moviehouse or at home watching.  Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!!